James V of Scotland

James V (April 10, 1512 – December 14, 1542) was king of Scotland (September 9, 1513 – December 14, 1542).

Related Topics:
April 10 - 1512 - December 14 - 1542 - Scotland - September 9 - 1513

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The son of King James IV of Scotland, he was born in April 10, 11 or 15, 1512, at Linlithgow Palace, West Lothian, and was still an infant when his father was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field on September 9, 1513.

Related Topics:
James IV of Scotland - April 10 - 1512 - Linlithgow Palace - West Lothian - Battle of Flodden Field - September 9 - 1513

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He was crowned in the Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle on September 21 1513. During his childhood, the country was ruled by regents, first by his mother, Margaret Tudor (sister of King Henry VIII of England), until she remarried in the following year, and thereafter by John, Duke of Albany, who was himself next in line for the throne after James and his younger brother, the posthumously-born Alexander, Duke of Ross. However, when war broke out again between England and France, the 6th Earl of Angus, the young king's stepfather, drove out Albany and kept James confined at Edinburgh Castle. Margaret, having divorced Angus, rescued James, and in 1528 he assumed the reins of government.

Related Topics:
Stirling Castle - September 21 - 1513 - Margaret Tudor - Henry VIII of England - John, Duke of Albany - Duke of Ross - England - France - 6th Earl of Angus - Edinburgh Castle - 1528

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His first action as king was to remove Angus from the scene, and he then subdued the Border rebels and the chiefs of the Western Isles. James V increased his royal income by tightening control over the royal estates and from the profits of justice, customs and feudal rights. He also gave his illegitimate sons lucrative benefices, thereby diverting substantial church wealth into his coffers. James spent a large amount of his wealth on building work at Stirling, Falkland, Linlithgow and Holyrood.

Related Topics:
Western Isles - Stirling - Falkland - Linlithgow - Holyrood

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James renewed the Auld Alliance with France, and on January 1, 1537, he married Madeleine de Valois, the daughter of King Francis I of France. Following her death a few months later, he proceeded to marry Marie of Guise, the daughter of Claude, 1st Duke of Guise and the widow of Louis of Orleans, Duke of Longueville. Although Mary already had two children from her first marriage, both her sons by James died in infancy.

Related Topics:
Auld Alliance - January 1 - 1537 - Madeleine de Valois - Francis I of France - Marie of Guise - Claude, 1st Duke of Guise

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King James V did not tolerate heresy, and during his reign a number of outspoken supporters of church reform were executed. The most famous of the reformers sentenced to death was Patrick Hamilton who was burned at the stake as a heretic at St Andrews in 1528.

Related Topics:
Patrick Hamilton - Burned at the stake - Heretic - 1528

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The death of his mother in 1541 removed any incentive for keeping peace with England, and James was defeated at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542. The setback affected his health, which had been poor for some time, and he was on his deathbed at Falkland Palace on December 14 when his only living heir, a girl, was born. Before he died, he is reported to have said, "It began with a lass and it will end with a lass". This was a reference to the Stewart dynasty, and how it had come to the throne through Marjorie, the daughter of Robert the Bruce. As it happened, the House of Stewart retained the throne despite its passing through an heiress, due to Mary's marriage to Lord Darnley, a distant Stewart cousin.

Related Topics:
1541 - England - Battle of Solway Moss - 1542 - Falkland Palace - December 14 - Robert the Bruce - House of Stewart - Lord Darnley

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James was succeeded by his infant daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. He was buried at Holyrood Abbey alongside Madeleine and his sons by Marie de Guise.

Related Topics:
Mary, Queen of Scots - Holyrood Abbey - Madeleine - Marie de Guise

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James V fathered seven known illegitimate children, three before the age of twenty. James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, his son by his favourite mistress, went on to play an important part in the reigns of Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI.

Related Topics:
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray - James VI

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James would disguise himself and walk about in Edinbugh at night, using the made-up name Goodman of Ballengeich.

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